Islam in Africa
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Islam in Africa
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The precise number of Muslims in Africa is unknown, as statistics regarding religious demography in Africa are incomplete. According to the World Book Encyclopedia, Islam is the largest religion in Africa, followed by Christianity. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, 45% of the population are Muslims, 40% are Christians and less than 15% are non-religious or follow African traditional religions. Islam in Africa is increasing, as many Bantu speakers embrace Islam especially in central and eastern Africa. The long and rich history in of these religions in the continent has proved to be the source of many conflicts, primarily in countries where there is no clear majority, such as Tanzania, Nigeria, and Cote d'Ivoire.
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[edit] History
Islam arrived to Africa in the earliest days of Islam, when Muslims fleeing persecution in Mecca arrived in Ethiopia. Islam spread to Africa via passages through the Sinai Peninsula and Egypt and through Islamic Arab and Persian traders and sailors. Islam's first muezzin, Bilal ibn Ribah, was also of Northeast African descent.
From 1869 to 1914 Islam in Africa probably doubled.[1] Despite its large contribution to the makeup of the continent, Islam is predominantly concentrated in North and Northeast Africa, as well as the Sahel region. This has served to further differentiate the various cultures, customs and laws of different parts of the African continent.
[edit] Muslim population
| Region | Total Population | Muslims | % Muslim | % of Muslim total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Africa | 83,121,055 | 54.13 million | 65.1% | 3.1% |
| East Africa | 242,100,000 | 163.4 million | 67.4% | 16.5% |
| North Africa | 202,151,323 | 180 million | 89.1% | 44.8% |
| Southern Africa | 137,092,019 | 8.9 million | 6.5% | 2.2% |
| West Africa | 268,997,245 | 134.0 million | 49.8% | 33.3% |
| Total | 933,461,642 | 540.0 million | 57.86% |
[edit] Population by country
| Country | Population |
| Somalia | 100% |
| Mauritania | 100% |
| Western Sahara | 100% |
| Algeria | 99% |
| Djibouti | 99% |
| Tunisia | 98% |
| Morocco | 98.7% |
| Egypt | 93% |
| Libya | 97% |
| Niger | 96% |
| Senegal | 95% |
| Mali | 94% |
| Guinea | 92% |
| The Gambia | 90% |
| Sudan | 81% |
| Chad | 70% |
| Sierra Leone | 65% |
| Burkina Faso | 65% |
| Nigeria | 50% |
| Eritrea | 50% |
| Ethiopia | 33% |
| Guinea-Bissau | 50% |
| Cote D'Ivoire | 40% |
| Tanzania | 35% |
| Benin | 24% |
| Cameroon | 22% |
| Liberia | 20% |
| Togo | 13% |
| Malawi | 12% |
| Mozambique | 18% |
| Ghana | 16% |
| Rwanda | 10% |
| Uganda | 12% |
| Central African Republic | 22% |
| Gabon | 12% |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 10% |
| Namibia | 3% |
| Lesotho | 1% |
| South Africa | 2% |
| Zambia | 5% |
| Angola | 2% |
| Kenya | 10% |
| Botswana | 3% |
| Republic of the Congo | 2% |
| Swaziland | 1% |
| Zimbabwe | 1% |
[edit] References
- ^ Bulliet, Richard, Pamela Crossley, Daniel Headrick, Steven Hirsch, Lyman Johnson, and David Northrup. The Earth and Its Peoples. 3. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005. ISBN 0-618-42770-8
